Sensing Murder Cases

SIMON BUIS – TAKEN FOR A RIDE

54 year old Simon Buis was savagely beaten and kicked to death in an Auckland park in 1980 by persons unknown. To this day, his killers have evaded capture. Simon was a gifted photographer, who socialized with some of New Zealand’s best known artists. Friend Tim Shadbolt described him as a “philosopher” and a “Socrates type” who enjoyed a good debate. His murder devastated his family and shocked Auckland’s artistic community. Sue Nicholson turns to the spirit world for answers.

LUANA WILLIAMS – LOST SOUL

25 year old Luana ‘La Verne’ Williams disappeared from her Tauranga home in 1985. It was eight years before police upgraded her disappearance to a murder enquiry. To this day, her body remains missing. Sue Nicholson investigates.

TRACEY ANN PATIENT – THE PATIENT KILLER

13 year old schoolgirl Tracey Ann Patient was plucked off Auckland’s busy Great North Road in 1976. The following morning, her lifeless body was found dumped 16 kilometres away in the Waikatere Ranges. She’d been strangled with a pantyhose tourniquet. Sue Nicholson investigates Tracey’s murder.

ANGELA BLACKMORE – FALLEN ANGEL

Sue Nicholson investigates the cruel murder of pregnant mother Angela Blackmoore in Christchurch in 1995. Angela was at home with her two year old son when someone entered her house and stabbed her 39 times.

AGNES ALIIVAA – GIRL IN THE DITCH

When 12 year old Agnes Ali’iva’a drowned in a ditch in 1992, the police initially thought her death was accidental. It was three days before anyone came forward to identify Agnes, and the media dubbed her the ‘Girl in the Ditch’. Sue Nicholson investigates the circumstances of Agnes’ death.

JIM DONNELLY – INTO THIN AIR

Jim Donnelly was a hard-working family man living a quiet life in suburban Auckland. For 20 years he’d worked as a scientist at the Glenbrook Steel Mill, south of Auckland. On the 21st of June 2004, he simply vanished into thin air…Sue Nicholson investigates his disappearance.

JUDY YORKE – LONG WAY HOME

25 year old Te Puke woman Judy Yorke was a devoted solo Mum who adored her kids. When she missed her daughter’s Fourth birthday party, her family knew something was terribly wrong and reported her missing. Sue Nicholson investigates.

BLAKE STOTT – WHERE THERE’S SMOKE

In 2006, 19 year old Blake Stott died in a mysterious car fire. Blake had seemingly pulled into a South Otago lay-by to have a sleep, when his late-model, un-modified car burst into flames. Because the fire damage was so severe, a team of fire experts were unable to conclusively determine the cause of the blaze. They suspected an “unspecified electrical fault” was to blame. The police found no evidence of foul play, the coroner ruled that Blake had died from carbon monoxide poisoning and the case was closed – much to the distress of Blake’s family. Sue Nicholson searches for answers.

ALEXA CULLEN – NOW YOU SEE ME

26 year old deaf woman Alexa Cullen vanished from her home in Manaia, on the Coromandel Peninsular in 1995. She had a history of hitch-hiking and police suspected she’d run away. But three years later, ominous rumors began circulating in the community, prompting police to launch a murder enquiry. To this day, Alexa’s body is missing and the events of that fateful day remain a mystery. Sue Nicholson investigates.

SARA NEITHE – VANISHING POINT

In 2003, 32 year old mother of three Sara Neithe vanished from the Hauraki Plains. Neither Sara nor her car have been seen since. Police suspect that Sara has been murdered but without a crime scene, they have been unable to advance the case. Sue Nicholson investigates.